News Highlights: Russia visits Eritrea, 200.000 refugees enslaved in Libya, EU ministers ponder controversial migration reforms

by K. Smits
Posted on January 27, 2023January 27, 2023
Abiy Ahmed

In this week’s news highlights: Russian foreign minister visits Eritrea; Ethiopian PM visits Sudan; Eritrean troops announce withdrawal from Tigray, but forces remain; Reform of regional administration in Tigray proposed; Military exercises and weapons inflow in Ethiopia; Ethiopian Orthodox Church in tension as three Archbishops break away; Fighting continues in Oromia; Experts warn against normalisation of relations with Ethiopia and Eritrea; IDPs in Abbi Adiy suffer lack of food and medicine; US Airstrikes in Somalia; ICC Prosecutor urges Sudan to cooperate in Darfur trial; Horn of Africa drought forecast for 2023; Digital education in East Africa; 200.000 refugees and migrants estimated enslaved and tortured in Libya; EU migration reforms start with demands for walls and externalisation; EU Foreign Affairs Council yields nothing on Ethiopia; Greece boasts of 260.000 refugees and migrants halted; Irish rescue ship prepares for mission; and UNODC warns victims of trafficking less often identified.

News Highlights: Foundation calls for response to atrocities by Eritrea, Reports of clashes at Eritrean border, Legal challenge to UK’s Rwanda plan

In this week’s News Highlights: Foundation for Human Rights calls for immediate response to ‘atrocity crimes’ in Eritrea; Clashes at the border between TDF and Eritrean armies; Eritrean refugees in Amhara camps threatened; Gondar University replies to BBC allegations of covering evidences of mass murders in Tigray; IFRC secretary general calls for a scale-up of humanitarian assistance in the Horn; 44 migrants and refugees drown off the coast of Western Sahara; Multiple rescues at sea; Legal action against UK Home Secretary plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda; More than 20 people missing off the Canary Island; Migrants and refugees arbitrarily detained near the front lines in Ukraine; 2,500 migrants and refugees detained in conditions unfavourable to mental health in Lithuania; Fire in migrant camp previously criticised for its poor conditions in Cyprus; Businessman arrested in the Ballearic Islands for exploiting migrants and refugees; 90 young migrants and refugees evicted; 5 human smugglers sentenced to jail in the UK; Eritrean refugee found hanged in a trailer in France; Opening of the COP15 of the UNCCD as Africa suffers worst droughts; The Human Right Council votes to increase scrutiny on Russian abuses in the war, Eritrea and China vote against.

Horn Highlights: Foundation announces legal action on Eritrea, Witnesses say Amhara forces are hiding atrocity evidence, Prisoners tortured in Sudan

In this week’s Horn Highlights: Foundation announces legal action on Eritrea in 10 May press conference; Amhara security forces hiding evidence of ethnic cleansing, say witnesses; Aid flow to Tigray remains trickle; CPJ calls for the release of journalists in Ethiopia who could face death penalty; UN’s Bachelet condemns religious violence in Ethiopia; Civilian casualties in Oromia; Eritrea-Tigray rivalry role in famine; Analysts warn resumption of Ethiopia conflict imminent; Rock-hewn churches at risk; Tigrayans call for release of prisoners; GERD cyberattack; Lawyers accuse Sudanese authorities of torturing prisoners; Sudan opposition group refuses to participate in UN-led dialogue; Eritrean Press Agency claims Russia sent drones to Eritrea in exchange for naval base; Eritrean asylum seeker challenges Swiss return of Eritreans with torture story; Somalia set to elect president of 15 May; and Pope to visit South Sudan in July.